Moval
A moval is a brilliant-faceted diamond or gemstone cut that blends the elongated body of an oval with the tapered, pointed ends of a marquise — the name is a portmanteau of the two.
Also known as: Marquise-oval hybrid
| Outline | Elongated, tapered at both ends — softer than a marquise, more pointed than an oval |
|---|---|
| Faceting | Modern brilliant (same style as oval and marquise) |
| Availability | Very rare — never reached mainstream production, largely special-order |
| Common issue | Bow tie; tapered points are more vulnerable than an oval's rounded ends, though less so than a marquise's sharp tips |
| Typical L:W ratio | Above roughly 1.70, where the tapered look becomes visible |
What defines the cut
A moval sits between two established modern-brilliant shapes rather than being faceted differently from either: it uses the same brilliant faceting arrangement as an oval or marquise, with an outline that blends the two. Diamonds with a length-to-width ratio above roughly 1.70 begin to show the tapered look associated with movals — below that, a stone reads as a fairly standard elongated oval.
Visual characteristics
The result softens a marquise's sharp, chip-prone points into a more rounded taper, while giving an oval more architectural definition and elongation than it has on its own. Like both parent shapes, a moval can show a bow tie — a dark shadow across the centre of the stone — worth checking in video before buying, though the effect tends to be less pronounced than on a true marquise because the points are less acute.
History
The moval emerged as a named hybrid cut in the late Edwardian and early Art Deco period, roughly the 1910s-1920s, alongside broader experimentation with elongated brilliant shapes. It has never reached mainstream popularity and remains a niche, largely special-order shape rather than a standard catalogue item.
Buying considerations
- Because there is no fixed proportion standard the way there is for a round brilliant, judge a moval on its actual face-up appearance (photos or video) rather than assuming consistency between stones described the same way.
- Check the taper and point protection in the setting — the tapered ends, while softer than a marquise's, still want prong or setting protection.
- Availability is genuinely limited; expect longer sourcing times than for a standard oval or marquise.
Jewellery suitability
Suits the same settings that flatter an oval or marquise — solitaire, halo, and three-stone designs — while reading as more distinctive than either parent shape on its own.
Terminology
"Moval" is a coined portmanteau (marquise + oval), not a historic gemological term — it describes an outline blend, not a distinct faceting method.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a moval the same as an elongated oval?
- Not quite — a moval specifically blends an oval's body with a marquise's tapered points. A simple elongated oval keeps rounded ends throughout; a moval's ends taper toward a point the way a marquise's do, just less sharply.
- Why is a moval so hard to find?
- It has never been a mainstream commercial shape. Most cutters produce it to special order rather than keeping standard inventory, so expect a longer sourcing timeline than for a standard oval or marquise.
- Does a moval show a bow tie?
- It can, for the same reason ovals and marquises can — but because a moval's points are less acute than a true marquise's, the effect is typically less pronounced.
Compared with
Related cuts
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